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"I know only one way, and that is this: give up your illusion that you are able to do anything about it. If you become agitated, remain agitated. Know that you are disturbed and that you can do nothing about it. It is out of your control. Don't make any effort to be calm. Even those people who make an effort to be calm become agitated and disturbed. They become agitated, and in their efforts to become calm they create fresh uneasiness in themselves."
But the man persisted, "Your advice does not settle my mind; I want to be calm."
The master said, "Then you are bound to remain agitated because you wish for something. You refuse to leave this matter to God, while the fact is that everything depends on him; nothing is within your control. I became calm from the day when I began to accept willingly whatever happened, whatever came to me. I could not be calm as long as I desired and tried to become something."
But the man would not accept what the master said. "I am jealous of your calm," he said. "I cannot remain satisfied with your explanation."
Then the master asked him to wait and to ask his question when there was nobody in his hut, because he had many visitors. The man agreed, and when there was nobody in the hut he again requested the master to show him some way. Then the master, putting his finger on his lips, said, "Be quiet."
The man was greatly perplexed. He said, "When there are people here and I ask you for a reply, you tell me to ask when there is no one here; and when there is no one here and I ask you for a reply you tell me to keep quiet. How will my problem ever be solved?"
Evening came, the sun had set, and all the people had left. The cottage was empty, and the man again sought a reply. The master asked him to come outside. The full moon was shining. The master asked, "Do you see these plants?" Small plants were growing in front of the cottage.
The man replied, "I see them."
Again the master asked, "Do you see those trees far off, reaching high into the sky?"
The man said, "I see them."
Then the master said, "Those trees are great and tall. These plants are small and low. There
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